70-300L I saw one

I've wanted one of these since selling my 100-400 hoping for something for outside that's not so big. Had suggested it to a friend who shoots a lot in places like Alaska through a special window in his plane set up just for photography.

Side by side with the beloved 24-70, it's just a tweek longer when short and extended it sticks out an inch or two more. But closed up it's about the size of the shorter zoom and 3.5 ounces more.

It feels seriously solid and playing with it, the IS seems remarkable, I think I'm pretty good at being steady anyway but this looks impressive.

He's doing a bunch of flying over the next few weeks, and will take it with him on location and I'll get to see the photos. He shoots a lot with the MKIII but often the IDSMKIII and tends to print as big as he can, lots in the 30-40" wide scenics with pretty amazing results. I'm continually impressed by what he gets out of the smaller 1.3 crop MKIII which is his favorite go to camera even though he owns both.

I know I want one of these lenses, reports on image impression have been very good; sharpness should be a given with one of the newer L series lenses, it's the rest of the "look" that I'm interested in.

I've reduced my own kit to very little, just two lenses that I use like crazy and in the mid ranges, but this one will probably be my next choice, if it ever stops raining around here.

I keep looking at this lens too. Next time I travel I may have to pull the trigger on one but not sure if it's worth it to sell my amazing 70-200 2.8. Even without IS it's an impressive lens.

I`ve had a new 70-200 f4 l is for about two weeks now. Awesome!

Although for the extra reach of the 70-300 I am thinking of exchanging it. I have a couple of days left to decide. It is quite compact for the range.

Terry

I was wondering about this lens until I tried it at my local shop... After that I had to get one and I am very happy with the results so far

I wonder how it compares to the tamron which is the same range and speed but less then $500.

Canon also sells a couple of the non-L series lenses in this zoom range for a lot less money as well, one of them is reportedly quite good.

I used to own the EF 70-300 IS and was happy with its IQ until I moved from APS-C to FF. The center provided decent sharpness (although getting a bit soft after 200mm), but the corners were soft. In contrast the 70-300L is sharp across the frame.